I can't believe how many veteran moms I know who don't do this one thing. I got into the habit of waking up before the Squirt as soon as he started sleeping through the night and it is hands down my favorite time of day. I entirely contribute my ability to lose the baby weight, to maintain a blog, to have a quiet time and to look forward to my kids waking up to this one single habit.
After almost 2 years of starting my day on my own terms, I now can't imagine waking up to the urgency of a crying kiddo each morning.
I try to get up an hour before my youngest is stirring and decide each day how to spend that time. Whether I work out and take a shower, make breakfast and have my quiet time or read blogs and write for my own, I have a chance to accomplish something for ME before doing anything for the kids each day. On the days I don't get up before they do, I tend to slink through the morning, wishing I had a minute to enjoy my coffee before it got cold or that I'd had the chance to brush my teeth before noon.
If you've never gotten up before your kids or you're not a morning person, start with 15 minutes and see how your day improves. I'll be shocked if you don't find yourself more excited to engage with your kids once they are awake and join you for the day.
What do you think? Is this something you do every day? Or something there's no way you'll ever do?
Veteran mamas out there - any other simple tips like this for more peaceful days?
I wish I could do this, and some days I do, but for now it's not something I can seem to do on any regular basis. I think partly its becuase I'm still getting up 1-2 times a night to nurse the little guy and mainly becuase I don't get to bed until 11:30 or 12 each night. I need more hours in my day! But props to you for doing this (and for already losing the baby weight from #2! wish I could say the same!!!)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty fortunate I've established both sleeping in and then quiet time right away. I get my little ones there milk and snack traps with cereal and they go back to there rooms for a half hr or so to look at books while I work out. Then we are all up together for a couple of hrs and then we all have quiet time while Camden takes his late morning nap. At that time I get to do a few more things for myself. I will say since limited my time on facebook to twice a week everyone and I mean everyone has been much happier. How's it going for you?
ReplyDeleteMy Baby A. is a year now, but he still wakes up at night sometimes so I sleep as long as I can but I have been thinking about doing this anyway. I'll start next week and let you know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI do this at least 4 days out of the week (the 5th day I get up early to shower and get ready for my small group that meets at 9:30am) and it really does make a world of difference. It's usually about 45 minutes before B wakes up (though that can vary). If we've had a bad night (he wakes up a lot, I wake up a lot, etc.) or I'm sick (like this week) then I'll sleep in instead, but I really try to get up and exercise and then have my quiet time :)
ReplyDeleteI feel a lot better physically (especially now that I'm pregnant again) when I sleep later, but mentally and spiritually and emotionally the getting up early is great!